STATE COLLEGE -- Bill O'Brien began his weekly news conference Tuesday talking about injuries. He ended it by talking about Penn State's offense, specifically how its NASCAR set helps his team find a groove.

Fortunately for the Penn State head coach, what he said at the beginning will have no impact on what he said at the end come Saturday, when the Lions host UCF at 6 p.m. at Beaver Stadium.

Here are five key points from O'Brien's Tuesday chat.

1. Injury Update: As it pertains to this Saturday's clash, O'Brien updated a few injury situations regarding his Lions. Linebacker Mike Hull will practice Tuesday and "will be good to go for the game," O'Brien said, while safety Ryan Keiser is questionable with an undisclosed injury.

Linebacker Ben Kline is also back in the line-up after missing last Saturday's clash with Eastern Michigan, according to O'Brien. Running back Bill Belton will also be good to go by game time, even if he has "a little issue" that O'Brien made reference to but did not elaborate on Tuesday.

In injury news not related to this week's contest, O'Brien said receiver Deshawn Baker will return to practice next Monday, as will walk-on offensive lineman Evan Galimberti, who suffered a knee injury in the Big 33 game that has held him out.

2. Receiver Rotation: Eleven different Nittany Lions have caught passes to date, as quarterback Christian Hackenberg has spread the ball around plenty in the early-goings of his season. O'Brien was asked if finding a way to get all of his receivers on the field has proved difficult, which he said hasn't been the case.

"I think we have about six guys in the rotation at wide receiver, and what we try to do, by personnel, we try to get as many guys as we can into that rotation," O'Brien said. "Some of those groupings are two wide-receiver groupings, some three, some four, and some five, which we haven't even used yet.

"We make sure we are rotating guys in and out. It helps morale, and a lot of different guys have caught passes from Christian this year which is good."

3. Lessons from O'Leary: UCF head coach George O'Leary and O'Brien have been the focal point early in both's third game-week, which comes as no surprise considering their long relationship which included O'Brien coaching under O'Leary for at least eight seasons at Georgia Tech.

Asked about what he learned most from O'Leary, O'Brien pointed out two things: organization and toughness.

"I think probably the two big lessons from him that I'll always
have with me is one, organization," O'Brien said. "He's a very organized guy, and there is not a wasted moment during
the day.

"I learned a lot about toughness and resiliency of a football team, and that is a very important part and characteristic of a football
team."

4. Obeng has options: Stephen Obeng-Agyapong has played plenty of linebacker the last two weeks, and even is listed as the second-team strong side linebacker for this week's game. Yet, with the return of Hull, it opens the door for curiosity as to how Obeng-Agyapong's role might change.

The long story short? Either way, he will have a role come Saturday.

"If Hull can go, it will be Hull, Carson, and Wartman more than
likely. If Hull has some issues throughout the week, we'll go with whoever we have there," O'Brien said.

"Obeng will play, and have a role in this game just like he has the past two weeks."

5. Third down talk: Penn State owns a dubious mark two weeks into the college football season: The Lions 2-for-26 marks on third-down is the worst in all of Division-I football, something O'Brien said must improve, starting with his play calling.

The number isn't just representative of third down, he said. Rather, it has plenty to do with what happens on first and second down, too.

"We have to get off to a better start on first down. Whether it's
penalty to put us back or a penalty that puts us in second and long, we're already off schedule," O'Brien said. "Once we get to third down, plays have to be made there, whether it's protection breakdown or something else, it will get better."